harp on

Idioms  

1. Dwell on; talk or write about to a tedious and excessive extent. For example, She kept harping on the fact that she had no household help at all. This expression is a shortening of harp on the same string, meaning “to play the same note over and over.” It was first recorded in 1518.

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Example Sentences

But again, with so many issues, hot-button issues, we don't harp on it.

From Salon • Oct. 21, 2024

“As much as we harp on curation and context and all of these things, we still want people to have a good time.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2024

“We won 38-3 so I’m not going to sit here and harp on that,” said Prescott, whose 20-yard TD toss to CeeDee Lamb was his first to a receiver this season.

From Washington Times • Oct. 2, 2023

No use continuing to harp on something outrageous when one’s outrage falls straight into the void.

From Slate • May 13, 2023

When the song was finished Willie polished his harp on the front of his shirt.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers

Related Words

• dwell on
• nag